Your Child’s First Speech Therapy Appointment: What to Expect
Congratulations on taking the first step toward helping your child thrive! If you’re feeling a little nervous about your child’s first speech therapy appointment, you’re not alone. It’s natural to wonder how therapy will work for your little one who may not fully understand why they’re there. Questions like, What should I bring? How long will it last? Will my child cooperate? might be circling in your mind—and that’s okay. Let’s walk through it together so you know exactly what to expect.
First Things First: It’s All About Evaluation
Your child’s first appointment will be an evaluation. Think of it as a fact-finding mission for the therapist to get to know your child’s strengths, challenges, and unique personality. Here’s what it will typically include:
- Standardized Testing: A structured way to compare your child’s abilities to children their age.
- Observation Through Play: Watching how your child engages during play can reveal so much about their communication style.
- Medical History and Parent Input: Your insights are golden. You’ll share information about your child’s development, milestones, and daily routines.
Before the appointment, you’ll likely receive some paperwork to fill out. Take your time completing it, and don’t forget to jot down any questions or concerns you have—it’s easy to forget them in the moment.
Who Should Attend?
At least one parent needs to be present during the first session. While it’s tempting to bring the whole family, we recommend leaving siblings at home for this one. This time is all about focusing on your child and giving them the space to shine. The evaluation can last up to two hours, so pack your patience (and maybe a snack for afterward!). Some kids warm up quickly, while others take a bit more time—both are completely normal.
What Happens During the Evaluation?
Here’s how the session usually unfolds:
- Getting to Know Your Child: The therapist will ask about your child’s strengths, challenges, and areas you’d like to see improvement. You might discuss topics like speech, language, social interactions, or feeding habits. Be ready to share details about your child’s milestones and everyday routines—this helps paint a full picture.
- Play-Based Observation: To your child, it will feel like playtime! The therapist might use toys, books, and games to engage them while observing their communication and interaction skills.
- Standardized Assessment: If appropriate, the speech therapist will use a formal test to measure their speech and language skills compared to peers. If they’re not ready for a structured test, no problem! The therapist will adapt with an informal assessment instead.
- Review and Next Steps: If the evaluation shows that speech therapy would be helpful, the therapist will discuss their findings and outline a plan of action. You’ll talk about goals, session frequency (usually one to two times per week), and what therapy might look like. It’s all about creating a plan that works for your child and your family.
What Comes Next?
Once you’re on the schedule, the real fun begins! Speech therapy sessions are tailored to your child’s unique needs and abilities. Over time, you’ll see progress—and so will they! At Kid’s Creek Therapy, we’re here to help your child shine, both at home and in the classroom. We’re excited to welcome you into our family and cheer your child on every step of the way.
Not Sure If Your Child Needs Speech Therapy?
If you’re still on the fence, don’t worry. We’ve developed a free online GAP Assessment to help parents like you. By answering a few simple questions, you’ll get an instant score that can guide your next steps. [Click here to take the free GAP Assessment] or schedule a free consultation with one of our therapists.
Remember, you’re not in this alone. We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way—let’s get started on this exciting journey together!
Melanie McGriff, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Owner/Speech Therapist
Key words: speech therapist, evaluation, speech therapy, assessment, play-based, standardized assessment, speech, language, social interactions, play skills
